Setting up Express JS Project and Simple API Setup

Express is a fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework for Node.js. It simplifies the process of building web applications and APIs. In this article, we will walk through the process of setting up an Express JS project and creating a simple API.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Before we can start using Express, we need to have Node.js installed on our system. You can download and install Node.js from the official website (https://nodejs.org).

Step 2: Initialize a new Node.js project

Once Node.js is installed, open your terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to create your Express project. Run the following command to initialize a new Node.js project:

npm init -y

Step 3: Install Express

After initializing the project, we need to install Express. Run the following command in your terminal:

npm install express

Step 4: Create a new file for your Express application

Create a new file (e.g., index.js) in your project directory. This will be the main file for your Express application.

Step 5: Set up a simple API

Now, let’s create a simple API using Express. In your index.js file, add the following code:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello, World!');
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
});
    

Step 6: Start your Express application

To start your Express application, run the following command in your terminal:

node index.js

Your Express application will start and you can access the simple API at http://localhost:3000.

That’s it! You have successfully set up an Express JS project and created a simple API. You can now continue to build more complex applications and APIs using Express.